International News Safety Institute lança guia de segurança para jornalistas que cobrirão a Copa

O International News Safety Institute (INSI) elaborou um manual de segurança para jornalistas que vão  cobrir a Copa do Mundo na África do Sul. Recomendando sempre que os correspondentes internacionais procurem o aconselhamento dos jornalistas locais para questões de segurança, o documento traz um panorama da criminalidade na África do Sul e alguns cuidados a serem tomados.

De acordo com o manual,  o país é o primeiro colocado em homicídios e estupros no mundo, segundo em violência armada e seqüestros e terceiro em assaltos e roubo de carros. As informações são do site Nationmaster (que compila e organiza dados da CIA).

O documento do INSI oferece dicas para cuidados em relação a deslocamentos dentro do país, saúde, assaltos, roubos e golpes. Abaixo alguns exemplos:

“Não ande pelas ruas da cidade sozinho à noite e evite certas áreas de dia. Seja aconselhado por jornalistas locais. Seu hotel também dará bom aconselhamento. Não vá às cidades satélites sozinho em nenhum momento – sempre leve um guia local.”

“Nunca deixe seu cartão de crédito fora de vista ao efetuar o pagamento em um bar ou restaurante. Sempre faça os funcionários trazerem a máquina até você, ou então vá até o balcão.”

“Fique em hotéis guarnecidos e não em casas privadas. Muitas pessoas são atacadas em casa ou na entrada da garagem.”

“Não exiba telefones celulares ou outros aparelhos eletrônicos chamativos. Você fará de si mesmo alvo de um assaltante. E, na África do Sul, assaltantes podem andar armados – o país está repleto de armas e pessoas que não hesitam em usá-las. Pessoas já chegaram a levar tiros por suas televisões.”

“Não dê dinheiro a pedintes. Não importa como se sinta, simplesmente seja educado e continue andando. A maior parte da esmola nas ruas da África do Sul está ligada ao crime organizado e você também poderá ser alvo de um assalto.”

“Aproximadamente 19% dos sul africanos (entre 15 e 49 anos) estão infectados com o HIV. A maior rota de transmissão é da mãe para o bebê ou sexo heterossexual. Os números falam por si mesmos e qualquer atividade sexual é de alto risco. Camisinhas oferecem proteção, embora nem mesmo sexo com proteção seja livre de risco. A doença afeta sul africanos através de todos os níveis sócio econômicos, incluindo os com boa educação. Abstinência ou uso de proteção também irão protegê-lo contra outras doenças sexualmente transmitidas, como hepatite B e Clamídia”.

O manual também dá algumas dicas de onde obter mais informações de segurança, como com o jornalista Michael Schmidt ([email protected]), da Professional Journalists´ Associoation of South Africa, e com o Escritório de Assuntos Internacionais Britânico, que tem dicas voltadas aos torcedores.

As autoridades responsáveis pela Copa do Mundo na África do Sul têm dois guias em construção, um  para torcedores e um para a imprensa. Ambos estarão disponíveis em www.fifa.com.

Jornalistas que quiserem enviar sugestões para o documento do INSI podem entrar em contato com [email protected]

Leia abaixo o manual completo:

World Cup Safety Checklist
By INSI

The International News Safety Institute has compiled a safety checklist for journalists and other news professionals covering the World Soccer Cup in South Africa.
 
South Africa is not a war zone, but there are serious levels of violent crime. According to Nationmaster, which compiles crime and other statistics on all countries, South Africa ranks first in the world for homicide and for rape, 2nd for gun violence and kidnapping, 3rd for robbery and 6th for car theft.
 
http://www.nationmaster.com/country/sf-south-africa/cri-crime
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_South_Africa
 
Add to that a European and Latin American tradition of violence by travelling soccer fans.
 
The South African authorities are making huge efforts to ensure the safety of all who go there to enjoy the soccer.
Overall, South Africa is a beautiful and friendly country. But visitors, especially journalists who may wander off the beaten tracks, would be wise to be forewarned and thus forearmed for safety´s sake. Never forget most South Africans are poor and unemployed and many are desperate. Westerners mean money.
 
Travel
Do not wander the streets of cities alone at night and avoid certain areas by day. Be advised by local journalists. Your hotel will also give good advice. Do not go into the satellite townships alone at any time - always take a local guide.

Muggings and car-jackings are common. It is best to avoid driving if possible - use a local driver - and never drive at night if it can be avoided. Avoid short cuts like alleyways, waste ground and wooded, bushy areas. Keep to well-lit main roads.
Serious accidents are a daily occurrence on South African roads. Causes include overtiredness and haste exacerbated by the poor condition of roads, un-roadworthy vehicles and a lack of driver training. Driving at night increases the risks. Car rage is common - fender benders can be followed by gunfire.

Drive with cell phones switched on and in reach, in case of car-jack attempts. Have the Police emergency number - 10111 - on one-button speed dial. While driving, keep the windows rolled up and doors locked. Sit in the middle of the back seat if possible. Don´t hesitate to jump a red light on a deserted road at night. Keep moving.
Tell people where you are going, which route you intend to take and when you expect to be back. Make regular check-in calls. Carry a tracker device if you have one.
 
Personal
Stay in secured hotels rather than private houses. Many people get attacked at home or in the garage/driveway.
Lock and bolt hotel room doors at night and don´t open for strangers. Make sure your valuables are securely locked in the hotel safe.

Do not carry your passport with you - leave it in the safe and use a copy for ID purposes.
Exercise care in choosing a restaurant or night spot, and don´t walk there. Don´t get drunk until you´re safely back in your room.
If you believe you are being followed, cross over road/change direction to check. If certain, get to a public area, walk into a shop. Call friends or police from mobile. Do not confront the person.

Do not walk or jog with earphones in - you need to be alert to your surroundings. And phones indicate a desirable i-pod. Don´t jog on your own anyway - use a hotel gym if you must exercise.
Never, ever carry a gun, although many South African civilians do. It not only jeopardises your position as a journalist, in South Africa guns attract guns.
 
Property
Keep kit and bags, laptops, cellphones, radios, secure at all times - anything not nailed down gets stolen.
Do not flaunt cellphones or any other fancy electronics. You will make yourself a target for a mugger. And in SA muggers can go armed - the country is awash with guns and people who don´t hesitate to use them. People have been shot for their TVs.
    
Safety gear
For the soccer, take hard hats (like baseball hats) in case of fan riots and disturbances at matches and going to and from games. Anti-stab vests and respirators for tear gas would be useful but are not essential.
Always pre-arrange a quick exit route in case of post-match disturbances.

Small, unobtrusive cameras are very useful as they don´t attract attention so much. Shoot from the hip.
 
Mugging
Always listen to the mugger and never respond to any attacks. Hand over all belongings as requested and never try to engage with your attackers. Muggers normally operate in groups so there will always be someone else watching you.

If car-jacked try not to make eye contact.  Just get out of the car and walk away. Car-jackers operate in gangs. If you are asked for your wallet/purse always hand it over - do not try to argue or respond.
 
Theft
Report any theft straight away and cancel credit cards as soon as possible. It is worth taking a spare wallet/purse with you. Just carry small notes and maybe a work or invalid credit card as a decoy.
 
Credit Card Scams
Never let your card out of sight when paying in a bar/restaurant. Always make staff bring the machine to you or go to the desk.
 
Begging
Do not give to beggars. However you feel, just be polite and pass by. Most begging on South Africa’s streets is linked to organised crime and you could also be getting set up for a mugging or theft.
 
Health
Ensure that you are up to date with tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccine (this is one injection that lasts for 10 years) and hepatitis A (one injection lasts one year and a booster dose 6-36 months later extends the protection to over 20 years). There are areas of South Africa that have a risk of malaria. These are generally in the Northern / border areas and include the lowland Mpumalanga province (including the Kruger National Park), Northern Province, and north eastern KwaZulu-Natal as far south as Jozini. The highest risk is September to May.
 
Safe sex/no sex
Approximately 19% of South Africans (aged 15-49) are infected with HIV. The main route of transmission is mother to baby and heterosexual sex. The figures speak for themselves and any sexual activity is very high risk. Condoms do offer protection, though even protected sex is not without risk. The disease has affected South Africans across all socio economic backgrounds including those who are well educated. Abstinence or protection will also protect you against other sexually transmitted infection such as hepatitis B and Chlamydia.
 
Safety Advice
As always, local journalists are the best sources for guidance.
The Professional Journalists´ Association of South Africa has a Facebook site. Contact Michael Schmidt [email protected]
 
The British Foreign Office has useful advice for fans
http://tinyurl.com/3aaj796
 
The South Africa World Cup authorities have two guides in the works, a Fan Guide and Media Guide. Both will be available soon on www.fifa.com

INSI would like to thanks its members for providing this safety advice, and welcomes any corrections or additions.
INSI will monitor events during the tournament and will issue updates as and when necessary.

You can help your colleagues by sending any safety-related information to [email protected]

www.newssafety.org